Explain the different notions that Shakepeare uses in The Christmas Carol

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Introduction

THE CHRISTMAS CAROL ESSAY By Samuel Stanbury Describe the notions in which Shakespeare uses in The Christmas Carol The book I will be studying is titled 'A Christmas Carol' it was first published on December 19, 1843 and is written by Charles Dickens. The story was instantly successful, selling over six thousand copies in one week. It was originally written as a potboiler to enable Dickens to pay off a debt, though the tale has become one of the most popular and enduring Christmas stories of all time. The first thing the reader notices about the book is the title 'A Christmas Carol'. Underlining the word 'carol' I have suggested it is almost like a carol. The story reminds people of Christian values and duties. It also carries the message of hope. The reader will notice the fact that each chapter is written in 'staves'. A stave is a line of music. We can see that this links to the title of the book, 'A Christmas Carol', which is a traditional Christmas song. The book was also written in episodes for a weekly magazine, giving people the chance to purchase four different parts than the whole book. Charles Dickens is trying to change Victorian society in the book. Dickens used the playwright to query people's social precedence and to appeal for action and change. He wanted to alarm people out of their satisfaction of life and to remember that they should contribute in many respectable deeds while they are alive otherwise in the chains of their life on earth will follow them into their next life. ...read more.

Middle

This links back to Stave 1 when Scrooge rejected his nephew's invitation. But she still has love towards Scrooge, "dear, dear" is also used as repetition. Scrooge is also told that the party organized by Fezziwig did not cost a great deal of money. But Scrooge finds out that money is not the important thing from this experience. There is also a discussion about Scrooge's break up with his fianc� Belle. We find out that Scrooges focused too much on money. She releases their contract as it is an old one. "It was made when we were both poor and content to be so, until, in good season, we could improve our worldly fortune by our patient industry. You are changed. When it was made, you were another man." Overall the purpose for the ghost is to warn Scrooge of his cruel ways and to correct these mistakes. The Ghost is showing Scrooge instances of the Past which journey into some of the happiest and saddest moments of his life. Some of these include: the mistreatment of Scrooge by his uncaring father (who did not allow his son to return home from boarding school, not even at Christmas), the loss of a great love sacrificed for his devotion to business and the death of his sister, the only other person who ever showed love and compassion for him. Unable to stand these painful memories and his growing regret of them, Scrooge covers the spirit with the large candle snuffer it carries and he is returned to his room, where he falls asleep. ...read more.

Conclusion

Scrooge is also treated dissimilar, some ghosts care for him, and others are forceful. Scrooge changes his life enormously by reverting to generosity. He turns back to the kind-hearted soul he was in his youth before the death of his sister. Though the first two spirits tell Scrooge some information about himself, he sees most for himself. His own statements and feelings are the biggest clue to his changing attitude. He also has the unusual experience of seeing himself as others see him. He repeatedly makes connections. Seeing himself as a small boy he thinks of the carol singer outside his door. When he sees his sister, Fan, he thinks of how harsh he has been to her son. But most of all he is affected by the sight of the person he is most able to help, Tiny Tim. Until the visit of the second spirit, Scrooge has not even known of the child's existence. I feel the purpose of the book was to try and change Victorian society and to make people realise these attitudes. Dickens did not try and lecture Victorian society but wanted to raise within society a new level of consciousness. The use of ghosts was idyllic for Dickens to try and change this society. He used different times and places to pin-point out what was wrong with the society and how people should try and change it. An ingenious method for an ingenious writer, Charles Dickens has a very wide knowledge of how to make the reader realise the problems of daily lives in there society. Overall the book has been a fantastic one to read, everyone has enjoyed it to an extent. ...read more.

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